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History
Syllabus For UPSC Mains Exam:
UPSC
Civil Services Mains Exam Optional Subject consists of 2 papers. Each paper is
of 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks.
PAPER – I
1.
Sources:
Archaeological
sources:
Exploration,
excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments Literary sources:
Indigenous:
Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in
regional languages, religious literature.
Foreign
accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.
2.
Pre-history and Proto-history:
Geographical
factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of
agriculture (neolithic and
chalcolithic).
3. Indus
Valley Civilization:
Origin,
date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and
architecture.
4.
Megalithic Cultures:
Distribution
of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community
life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.
5. Aryans
and Vedic Period:
Expansions
of Aryans in India.
Vedic
Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic
period to the later Vedic period; Political, social and economical life;
Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.
6. Period
of Mahajanapadas:
Formation
of States (Mahajanapada) : Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres;
Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and
Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas.
Iranian
and Macedonian invasions and their impact.
7.
Mauryan Empire:
Foundation
of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept
of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and
sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature.
Disintegration
of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.
8. Post –
Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas):
Contact
with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of
religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature
and science.
9. Early
State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:
Kharavela,
The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land
grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam
literature and culture; Art and architecture.
10.
Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:
Polity
and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants,
Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women,
Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi,
Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.
11.
Regional States during Gupta Era:
The
Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade
guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti
movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple
architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration;
Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana,
Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration; local Government; Growth
of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas,
Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.
12.
Themes in Early Indian Cultural History:
Languages
and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major
philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.
13. Early
Medieval India, 750-1200:
–
Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula,
origin and the rise of Rajputs – The Cholas: administration, village economy
and society
–
“Indian Feudalism”
–
Agrarian economy and urban settlements
–
Trade and commerce
–
Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order
–
Condition of women
–
Indian science and technology
14.
Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:
–
Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva
and Brahma-Mimansa
–
Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of
Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism
–
Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in
the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India
–
Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting
15. The
Thirteenth Century:
–
Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian
success – Economic, social and cultural consequences
– Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans – Consolidation: The
rule of Iltutmish and Balban
16. The
Fourteenth Century:
– “The
Khalji Revolution”
–
Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territtorial expansion, agrarian and economic
measures
–
Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad
Tughluq
– Firuz
Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works,
decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account
17.
Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:
–
Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women,
religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi
movement
–
Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North
India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and
new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture
–
Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural
production, trade and commerce
18. The
Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy:
–
Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa,
Bahmanids
–
The Vijayanagra Empire
–
Lodis
–
Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun
–
The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration
–
Portuguese Colonial enterprise
–
Bhakti and Sufi Movements
19.
The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture:
– Regional cultural specificities – Literary traditions
– Provincial architecture
– Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.
20.
Akbar:
–
Conquests and consolidation of the Empire
–
Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems
–
Rajput policy
–
Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious
policy
–
Court patronage of art and technology
21.
Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:
–
Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
–
The Empire and the Zamindars
–
Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
–
Nature of the Mughal State
–
Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts
–
The Ahom Kingdom
–
Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.
22.
Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries:
– Population, agricultural production, craft production
– Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French
companies : a trade revolution – Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance
and credit systems
– Condition of peasants, condition of women
– Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth
23.
Culture in the Mughal Empire:
–
Persian histories and other literature
–
Hindi and other religious literature
–
Mughal architecture
–
Mughal painting
–
Provincial architecture and painting – Classical music
–
Science and technology
24. The
Eighteenth Century:
–
Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire
–
The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh
–
Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas
–
The Maratha fiscal and financial system
–
Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761
–
State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest
PAPER –
II
1.
European Penetration into India:
The Early
European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French
East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal -The
conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English;
The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey.
2.
British Expansion in India:
Bengal –
Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three
Anglo-Maratha Wars; The Punjab.
3. Early
Structure of the British Raj:
The early
administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act
(1773); The Pitt’s India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The voice of free
trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English
utilitarian and India.
4.
Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:
(a) Land revenue settlements in
British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement;
Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture;
Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.
(b) Dislocation of traditional trade
and commerce; De -industrialisation; Decline of traditional crafts; Drain of
wealth; Economic transformation of India; Railroad and communication
network including telegraph and postal services; Famine and poverty in the
rural interior; European business enterprise and its limitations.
5. Social
and Cultural Developments:
The state
of indigenous education, its dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy,
The introduction of western
education
in India; The rise of press, literature and public opinion; The rise of modern
vernacular literature; Progress of science; Christian missionary activities in
India.
6. Social
and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas:
Ram Mohan
Roy, The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The
Young Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India
including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.; The contribution of
Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism – the
Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.
7. Indian
Response to British Rule:
Peasant
movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the
Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar
(1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising
(1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (18991900); The Great Revolt of 1857 – Origin,
character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the character of
peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s
and 1930s.
8.
Factors
leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The
Foundation of the Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating to
the birth of the Congress; Programme and objectives of Early Congress; the
social composition of early Congress leadership; the Moderates and Extremists;
The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic
and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary
extremism in India.
9. Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism;
Gandhi’s popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the
Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the end of the Non-cooperation
movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement; the two phases of
the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round
Table Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and
Working class movements; Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics
(1885-1947); the election of 1937 and the formation of ministries; Cripps
Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission.
10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858
and 1935.
11. Other strands in the National Movement.The Revolutionaries:
Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P, the Madras Presidency, Outside India.The
Left; The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the
Congress Socialist Party; the Communist Party of India, other left parties.
12.
Politics
of Separatism; the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the
politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence.
13. Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy; India and
her neighbours (1947-1964); The linguistic reorganization of States
(1935-1947); Regionalism and regional inequality; Integration of Princely
States; Princes in electoral politics; the Question of National Language.
14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947; Backward castes
and tribes in postcolonial electoral politics; Dalit movements.
15. Economic development and political change;
Land reforms; the politics of planning and rural reconstruction; Ecology and
environmental policy in post – colonial India; Progress of science.
16. Enlightenment and Modern ideas:
(i)
Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau
(ii)
Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies
(iii)
Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism.
17.
Origins of Modern Politics:
(i)
European States System.
(ii)
American Revolution and the Constitution.
(iii)
French revolution and aftermath, 17891815.
(iv)
American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of
slavery.
(v)
British Democratic Politics, 18151850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders,
Chartists.
18.
Industrialization:
(i)
English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society
(ii)
Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan (iii)
Industrialization and Globalization.
19. Nation-State System:
(i)
Rise of Nationalism in 19th century
(ii)
Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy
(iii)
Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across
the world.
20.
Imperialism and Colonialism:
(i)
South and South-East Asia
(ii)
Latin America and South Africa
(iii)
Australia
(iv)
Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.
21.
Revolution and Counter-Revolution:
(i) 19th Century European revolutions (ii) The Russian Revolution of 19171921
(iii) Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany. (iv) The Chinese
Revolution of 1949
22.
World Wars:
(i)
1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications
(ii)
World War I: Causes and consequences
(iii)
World War II: Causes and consequence
23.
The World after World War II:
(i) Emergence of two power blocs
(ii) Emergence of Third World and non-alignment (iii) UNO and the global
disputes.
24.
Liberation from Colonial Rule:
(i)
Latin America-Bolivar
(ii)
Arab World-Egypt
(iii)
Africa-Apartheid to Democracy
(iv)
South-East Asia-Vietnam
25.
Decolonization and Underdevelopment:
(i)
Factors constraining development: Latin America, Africa
26. Unification
of Europe:
(i)
Post War Foundations: NATO and European Community
(ii)
Consolidation and Expansion of European Community
(iii)
European Union.
27.
Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World:
(i)
Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union,
1985-1991
(ii)
Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001.
End of
the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.
